Machine for positioning and clinching ends upon can bodies



J. AfGRAY.

MACHINE FOR POSITIONING AND CLINCHING ENDS UPON CAN BODIES. APPLICATION FILED mm: 29, I917.

1,436,76 1 I Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

x mww A'TTO NE Y.

J. A. GRAY.

MACHINE FOR POSITIONING AND CLINCHING ENDS UPON CAN BODIES.

- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28.19l7- 1,436,761 Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

W1 TNESS J. A. GRAY. MACHINE'FOR POSITIONING AND CLINCHING ENDS UPON CAN BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28,!917 1,436,761 v Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

H 58 3 SHEETS S EET 3 WITNESS 7 patented N ov. 2 8, 1922.

JAMES A. GRAY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION, OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR POSITIONING- AND CLINCHING ENDS UPON CAN BODIES.

Application filed June 28, 1917. Serial N0. 177,485.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. GRAY, a

citizen of the United States, residingat the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMachines for Positioning and Clinching Ends upon Can Bodies, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a ma chine for positioning ends upon can bodies and for clinching said ends thereupon to retain the same in position during subsequent operations which may be performed upon the can, as for example, exhausting or cooking, it being'assumed that the cans are filled prior to the placing of the ends thereand in the wear and tear thereupon. More over, by means of continuously operating mechanism, a greater speed is obtainable, with the result that the capacity of themachine is greatly increased.

The invention will be hereinafter described in its preferred form, and-is so illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

but I do not wish to be understood as re-' stricting myself in this regard, for the reason that many changes may be made in the form and construction of the machine.

without departing in any manner from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore my wish to be understood as claiming the in vention as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

In order to comprehend the invention reference should be made to the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a. complete machine, showing the path taken by 'the cans in their course through the various parts of the apparatus.

Fig. '2 is a vertical section, taken on .the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrows showing the can end feeding mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a detailed section, enlarged, of the upper portion of a can body and a can end in position to be applied thereto.

Fig. 6 is a detailed section, enlarged, of the upper portion of a can body with an end partially clinched thereupon, the clinching means being also shown in section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the bed or frame of the machine, which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, is supported by means of suitably formed legs 2, and is formed with a horizonta'lly disposed table 3, over which the can bodies travel in their advance through the machine. The bed 1 supports a superstructure 4, F i s. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings, upon whic is carried an enclosed gear case 5. l w A drive shaft 6 is horizontally mounted upon said superstructure at one side of said gear case 5, Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of. the drawings, and carries upon its outer end a pulley 7 for. receiving power from any outside source not shown in the drawings. Said drive shaft 6 extends into the gear case 5,, I

and carries therein a worm 8 adapted to mesh with and drive a horizontally disposed worm wheel 9 fixed upon the upper end of a vertically "disposed shaft 10, sald worm and worm wheel being shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The shaft 10 is suitably journalled in the superstructure 4 and in the 'bed' 1, and carries near its lower end a pair of spaced spur gears 11 and 12. The upper spur gear 11 meshes with a similar gear 13,

fixed upon the lower end of avertical turret shaft 14, and said gear13 meshes in turn with a gear 15 carried by the lower end of a vertically disposed timing shaft 16, as shown in Fig. 4 of the'drawings," said shafts 14 and 16 being suitably journalled in the bed as shown. Upon the upper portion of the car 15 is formed a bevel gear 17, with w ich meshes a smaller bevel gear 18, carried upon a horizontal idler shaft 19, the latter driving, by means of a pair of meshing spur gears 20 and 21, a horizontal feed shaft 22.

Can bodies are brought into the sphere of action of the machine at the left hand end thereof, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

A pair of parallel feed chains 23, operating within suitable grooves formed inthe table 3, are driven by means of sprockets 24, Fig. 4 of the drawings, mounted upon the feed shaft 22. Said feed chains 23, being driven continuously, bring the can bodies 25, one

of which is illustrated at A in Fig. 1 of the drawings, into the machine between suitably spaced guide rails 26 without regular timed or spaced relation. At the position assumed by the,can body 25, as shown in Fig. 1 and designated by the letter A, said can body is arrested in its advance movement by a timer finger 27, the latter being pivotally mounted at 28 and carrying upon its inner end a cam roller 29 adapted tofollow a cam 30, shown inFigs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, mounted upon the timin shaft 16. Said shaft 16 also placed in the proper timed and spaced relation by the timing finger 27 and the star wheel 31. I

The vertical turret shaft 14 carries, above the table 3, an assembling turret 33, Fig. 2 of the drawings, comprising spaced upper I and lower disks 34 and 35 respectively, said disks having aligned can receiving pockets 35' formed therein. The can body 25 is transferred from the star wheel 31 to the turret 33 at the position B in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and from this position is carried around in a circular course inside a guide rail 36, Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings.

At the position '6 Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a can end is placed in assembling relation above the can body 25. For this purpose, there is provided a laterally extending bracket 37, secured to the bed 1 and carrying a holder or magazine 38 adapted to contain a stack of'can ends 39, Fig. 2 of the drawings. A can end feed slide 40is mounted within suitable guide-ways in the bracket 37, beneath the magazine 38, and is adapted to remove the lowermost can end 39 from the stack of ends 39 within said magazine. The slide 40 is operated by means of a lever 41 Figs. 2 and 3, to which it is connected by means of a link '42, and said lever, which is fulcrumed at 43, is connected at its lower end by a link 44 with a sliding yoke 45, adapted to straddle the vertical shaft 10 and to be guided thereby, and carrying a cam roller 46, Fig. 2 of the drawings, adapted to lie within and follow a groove 47 formed in the under face of a cam member 48 mounted upon said vertical shaft 10 between the spaced gears 11 and 12 thereof.

The feed slide 40 has a shoulder 49 ly ing at the rear of a depressed portion 50 formed in the upper surface of said feed slide. When said slide is moved outwardly to the limit of its travel, the lowermost The lowermost can end 39 and the entirestack bf ends resting thereupon, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, are normally supported by a finger 51, adapted to be inserted into the lower portion of said magazine to assume a position below said lowermost can end. Said finger 51 is pivotally mounted at 52 and is. adapted to be engaged by one end 53 of a horizontally disposed lever 54, Figs. 1 and 3 of the'drawings, said lever being fulcrumed at 55 and carrying a cam roller 56 adapted to ride upon a cam surface 57 formed on the side edge of the feed slide 40. A spring 58, is provided for normally retaining said roller in contact withsaid cam surface. A trigger 59, adapted to engage the lever 54 to hold the same in its normal position even .after the cam surface 57 of the feed slide 40 is moved away from the roller 56, is pivotally mounted at 60 and connected by means of a rod 61 with a lever 62, Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, said lever being mounted upon a vertical shaft 63, to the lower end of which is fixed a trip lever'64 adapted to lie partially within the path of the can bodies as the same are advanced by the starwheel 31. By reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen as long as no can body passes the trip lever 64, the

can end release lever 54 will be retained inthe position shown, by means of the trigger 59, said trigger being retained by a spring 59. The inner end 53 of the said release lever 54' as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings retains the can end cut out finger 51 in position to support the stack of can ends within the magazine and prevent the discharge therefrom of the lowermost end 39*. The passage of a can body past the trip lever 64 actuates said lever and causes the trigger 59 to release the can release lever 54. Therefore, when the can feed slide 40 moves outwardly, the roller 56 is allowed to follow the cam surface 57 formed upon said slide, and said; release lever 54 is actuated by its spring 58 to move its end 53 out of contact with the cut out finger 51, and said finger is thereupon withdrawn from beneath the lowermost can end by a spring 51, Fig. 3 of the drawings. The lowermost can end thereupon falls into the depressed portion 50 of the feed slide 40, and upon the forward movement of said slide, said end is carried forward by the shoulder 49 to the position 39", as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In this position, 39, the can end is engaged by a spring pressed dog 65, and retained in said position during the second outward movement of the feed slide 40. Said feed slide carries a second spring pressed dog 66, Fig. 2 of the drawings, adapted to engage the rear edge of the said can end at the position 39 when the feed slide is moved to its extreme rearward position, and, upon the subsequent second forward'movement of said slide, to advance said end to the position 39, at which said end lies within the pocket of the upper disk 34 of the assembling turret 33, and is therefore in axial alignment with the can body 25 at the position C, Fig. 2 of the drawings.

It is understood that the various interwork- Provision is made for stamping or mark-' ing the can ends, with any desired legend, between their removal from the magazine and their placing upon the can bodies. For this purpose there is provided an aperture 67, Fig. 1 of the drawings, in the cover plate 68 of the guide way for the feed slide 40, through which a suitably formed marking die is adaptedto be depressed into contact with the can end 39 at the position b. The marking die is carried by a weighted arm 69, Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, said arm being pivotally mounted at 70 and o erated by means of a connecting rod 71, eading from a crank arm 72, Fig. .3 of the drawings, carried by the horizontal shaft 43 forming the bearingfor the feed slide lever 41. Thus at each forward movement'of said feed slide, during which a can end is positioned at the position b, the marking die 69 is raised, and upon the subsequent rearward movement of said feed slide, during which said can end remains stationary at said position b, the marking die is brought down upon said can end for the stamping thereof.

The turret shaft 14 is extended above the turret 33 and carries upon said extended portion a spider 73, Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, in which are slidably mounted a plurality of vertically disposed spindles 74, one of said spindles being positioned in axial alignment with each pair of aligned can receiving pockets 35 formed in the turret disks 34 and 35. Upon their lower ends said spindles 74 carry assembling heads 74 adapted to engage the can ends, and upon their upper ends said spindles carry cam following rollers 7 5 adapted to follow a cam groove 76 formed in a stationary member 77 secured to the gear case 5 by means of a bracket 78, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The turret shaft 14, as shown, has a hearing at 79 in said stationary cam member 77. The spider 73 carrying the plungers 74 rotates in unison with the can engaging turret 33, and during the semi-circular movement of one of said plungers from the position 0 to the position said plunger is moved downwardly to cause its head 74' to be depressed upon the can-end 39 beneath, and to force said end down upon the can body 25. Positive assembling of the end and the body is necessary in the event that any portion of the contents of said can body should project above the top thereof and tend to hold the end separated therefrom. When the position D is reached, the assembling plunger head 74 is elevated by its cam, to free the can end, and is returned to its upper position in readiness to have the next can end introduced beneath the same.

At the position D, Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the can bodies with the ends applied thereto are transferred from the as sembling turret 33 to a transfer turret 80 mounted upon the vertical shaft 10 and comprising a pair of spaced flanges or disks.81 formed with aligned can receiving pockets 82. At said position D the guide rail 36 terminates and a guide rail 83 begins, said latter guide rail holding the cans in engagement with the transfer turret 80. An arcu ate plate 84 beneath which the filled cans move and which closely overlies the cans during their advance by said transfer turret, prevents the can end loosely applied to the filled cans from becoming misplaced during transfer movement and holds the same securely onto the cans.

The cans as transferred to the position E, Fig. 2 of the drawings, by the transfer turret 80, are placed upon a rotating table or disk 85, whose surface is flUSh'WIth that of the table 3. Said disk 85 is mounted upon a hollow shaft 88 journalled in the bed and provided at its lower end with a gear 87 adapted to mesh with the upper spur gear 11 carried by the vertical shaft 10. A vertical shaft 88 is journalled within the hollow shaft 86, and is driven by means of a spur gear 89 upon its lower end, which meshes with the lower gear 12 carried by said shaft 10. The vertical shaft 86 carries at its upper end a clinching turret 90 spaced above the rotating conveyer disk 85 and carrying a peripheral die ring 91 formed in its outer edge with a groove 92, adapted to curl or clinch the flange of the can'end over the flange of the can body by rolling action, the clinching turret 90 being so positioned, relative to the conveyer disk 85, that said clinching groove 92 is in the correct position to receive the flange of a can resting upon said conveyer disk. The clinching turret 90 is surro nded by a stationary semi-circular clinching flange 93, Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, said flange having a groove 94 also adapted to receive the flange of the can end. The clinching flange 93 is adjustably mounted by means of screws 95 in a bracket 96 supported from the bed by means of posts or columns 97.

The outer stationary clinching flange 93 begins at the position E and at this position, the can body with. the applied can end resting thereupon, is placed upon the rotating conveyer disk 85 and is carried thereby between said stationary clinching flange 93 and the inner rotating clinching turret 90. The can is thus rolled between said inner turret 90 and thestationary flange 93 and the flange of the can end, by being pressed between the opposite grooves 92 and 9A of said turret and said stationary flange respectively, is curled or clinched under the flange of the can body, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, to prevent the removal of the can end from the can body. The rotation of the clinching turret 90 is more rapid than that of the conveying disk 85, sothat the can bodies have as little slip upon said disk as possible. After travelling a little over 180 degrees upon the conveying disk 85, the cans are guided therefrom by the outwardl curved guide rail 98, F ig- 1 of the drawings, and may be carried ofl' to any suitable place of deposit, not shown in the drawings, the stationary clinching flange 93 terminating at this point.

The operation of the machine may be briefly described as follows:

Assuming that a. series of can ends are brought into the sphere of action of the machine by the feed chains 23', the course of ,one of said can bodies will be followed through the various steps of the apparatus, it being understood that each can body is acted upon in a similar manner. The can body 25 is arrested at the position A. Fig. 1 of the drawin s, by the timing lever 27 and is released thereby at the proper moment to be engaged by one of the arms of the timing star wheel 31. Said can body is then advanced by said star wheel and actuates the end feed trip lever 64. This permits the end feed mechanism to operate, as previously described, and during the advance of the can body 25, the lowermost can end 39 is removed from the magazine 38 and is conveyed to the position 39*, Fig. 2 of the drawings, and is there stamped or marked by the die 69. The continuously advancing can body 25 is-transferred at the position B from the star wheel 31 to the turret 33, and is placed within one of the pockets 35 thereof, and is carried thereby to the position C. At the same time the can end 39 is advanced from the position b to the position a, and placed in axial alignment above the can body.

The aligned can body and can end are then advanced in unison by the turret 33,

and during said advance the end is positive ly applied to the body by means of the downwardly moving assembling head 74'- At the position D the head 74 is raised, to w free the can end, and the can body 25, with the end resting thereupon, is transferred from the turret 33 to the transfer turret 80, during such transfer moving beneath the arcuate plate 84 which holds the can end in position relative to the filled can. Said transfenturret carries the can body with its end to the position E, where said body is placed upon the rotating conveyerdisk.

85, and the flange of the can end is engaged and rolled between the stationary clinching flange 93 and the rotating clinching turret 90. After this rolling process, by which the flange of the can is clinched loosely over the flange of the can body, to

through the machine without interruption,

the stamped end being positioned and clinched upon the can body during its continuous travel. It is also to be noted, that by means of the rolling action of the clinching mechanism the can end flange is clinched over the flange of the can body for its entire periphery. The clinching operation, it is understood, does not form a tight seal between the end and the can body, but

merely turns the can end flange under the flange of the can body so as to permanently but loosely retain the end upon the body By thus rolling the can end flange into its clinched position, said flange is preserved with a smooth and unbroken contour, a condition which permits the flange to be easily and perfectly hermetically seamed over the flange of the can body in the subse-' quent well-known double seaming operation,

In referring to the connection produced between the can body and can end as loose or loosely made, I do not intend that it is necessary to permit any relative movement of the cover on the body. My improvement has two uses, first to close filled cans with a processing vent, and, second, to prepare filled cans with a seam which secures the cover in place and which is outstanding and adapted for a final double seaming to make an hermetic joint.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for clinching covers on filled cans to loosely secure the covers and leave vents between the cans and covers, the

combination of mechanism for causing the cans to be fed at spaced intervals, mechanism for conveying the cans with a continuous movement through the machine, mechanism for feeding and placing covers on said cans during such conveyance, and mechanism for bending the cover flanges to engage loosely under. the can flanges all around the circumferenceof the covers and leaving the cans as they are delivered from the machine vented for processing.

2. In a machine for clinching covers on 'filled cans to loosely secure the covers and leave vents between the cans and covers, the combination of mechanism for causing the cans to be fed at spaced intervals, mechanism for conveying the cans with a continuous movement through the machine, mechanism for feeding and placing covers above said cans during such conveyance, means for moving the covers down on to the cans during such conveyance, and mechanism for bending the cover flanges all around the circumference of the covers to engage loosely under the can flanges and leaving the cans as they are delivered from the machine vented for processing.

3. In a machine for clinching covers on filled cans to loosely secure the covers and leave vents between the cans and covers, the combination of mechanism for causing the cans to be fed at spaced intervals, mechanism for conveying'the c ans with a continuous movement partly thmugh the machine, mechanism for feeding and placing covers on said cans during such conveyance, mechanism arrangedat a distance from said conveying mechanism for bending the cover flanges to engage loosely under the can flanges and leaving the cans as they are de livered from the machine vented for processing, said, bending means also conveying the cans onward, and means for transferring the cans and covers loosely positioned thereon from said conveying mechanism to said bending mechanism.

4. Ina machine for clinching covers on filled cans to loosely secure the covers and leave vents between the cans and covers, the combination of mechanism for causing the nism for conveying the cans with a continuous movement, mechanism for feeding and placlng covers .on said cans durlng such conveyance, mechanism for bending the cover W flanges to engage loosely under the can flanges and leaving the cans as they are delivered from the machine vented for processing, means for transferring the cans and 'covers loosely positioned thereon with a continuous movement from said conveying mechanism to said bending mechanism, and means for holding the. covers securely on the cans during said continuous transferring movement. 4

5. In a machine for clinching covers on filled cans to loosely secure the covers and leave vents between the cans and covers, the combination of mechanism for causing the cans to be fed at spaced intervals, a rotary turret havin means for holdin the cans in substantiaIly upright position for conveying the cans with a continuous movement,

turret, and mechanism for rolling and advancing continuously the covered cans and bending the cover flanges to engage loosely under the can flanges and leaving the cans as they are delivered from the machine vented for processing, said bending means also conveying the cans onward.

6. The combination of a continuously rotary can-conveying turret having lower stations for holding can bodies and upper stations for holding can ends above the can bodies, means for feeding can bodies to said can body holding stations, a can end stack holder, means for feeding can ends from said stack holder to said can end holding stations, means for assembling the can ends loosely on the can bodies during the rotation of the turret, and means to which the can bodies with ends positioned thereon are transferred by said turret for loosely clinching said can ends to the can bodies to leave vents as described, said clinching means also conveying the cans onward.

7 The combination of a continuously rotary can-conveying turret having lower stations for holding can bodies and upper stations for' holding can ends above the can bodies, means for feeding can bodies to sand can body holding stations, a can end stack holder, means for feeding can ends from said stack holder to said can end holding stations, means for assemblingthe can ends loosely on the can bodies during the rotation of the turret, means to which the can bodies with ends positioned thereon are transferred by said turret for loosely clinching said can ends to the can bodies to leave vents as described, and means for holding the can ends down on the can' bodies while they are so transferred.

8. The combination of a continuously rotary can-conveying turret haying lower sta- .bodies, means for feeding can bodies to said can body holding stations, a can end stack holder, means for feeding can ends from said stack holder to said can end holding stations, can end marking means arranged.

between said stack holder and said can end holding stations of the turret, means for assembling the can ends loosely on the can bodies during the rotation of the turret, means to which the can bodies with ends positioned thereon are transferred by said turret for loosely clinching said can ends to the can bodies to leave vents as described, and means for holding the can ends down on the can bodies while they are so transferred.

9.- The combination of a continuously rotary can-conveying turret having lower stations for holding can bodies and upper stations for holding can ends above the can bodies, means for feeding can bodies to said can body holding stations, a can end stack holder, means for feeding can ends from said stack holder to said can end Oholding stations, can end marking means arranged between said stack holder and said can end holding stations of the turret, means for assembling the can ends loosely on the can bodies during the rotation of the turret, and fixed and rotary members both having flange-bending surfaces for loosely clinching said can ends to the can bodies to leave vents as described. a

10. The combination of a continuouslyrotary can-conveying turret having lower stations for holding can bodies and upper stations for holding can ends above the can bodies, means for feeding can bodies to said can body holding stations, a can end stack holder, means for feeding can ends from said stack holder to said can end holding stations, means for assembling the canends loosely on the can bodies during the rotation of the turret, fixed and rotary members both having flange-bending surfaces to which the can bodies with ends positioned thereon are transferred by said turret for loosely clinching said can ends to the can bodies to leave vents as described, and means for holding the can ends down on the can bodies while they are so transferred.

11. In a machine for clinching covers on flanged cans to loosely secure the covers and leave vents between the cans and covers, the combination of mechanism for causing the cans to be fed at spaced intervals, mechanism having means for holding the cans in substantially upright position for receiving the cans so fed and conveying them contmuously in spaced relation, mechanism for feeding and placing covers on said cans during such conveyance, and mechanism for rollmg and advancing continuously the covered cans and at the same time producing a vented connection between the cans and the covers thereof.

12. In a machine for clinching covers on filled cans to looselysecure the covers and nism for conveying the cans with a continuous movement, mechanism for feeding and placing covers on said cans during such conveyance, mechanism comprising an inner cover-curling die and an outer cover-curling die for producing a vented connection between the cans and the covers thereof and for conveying the cans onward at the same time with a rolling motion, and fixed means arranged between 'said placing mechanism and said mechanism for producing the vented connection for temporarily holding the loose covers securely on the cans,

13. In a machine for clinching covers on filled cans to loosely secure the covers and leave vents between the cans and covers, the combination of mechanism for causing the cans to be fed at spaced intervals, mechanism for conveying the cans with a continuous movement through the machine, mechanism for feeding and placing covers on said cans during such conveyance, fixed and rotary flange-bending dies for producing a vented connection between the cans and the covers thereof, and fixed means arranged between said placing mechanism and said dies for temporarily holding-the loose covers securely on the cans.

14. In an apparatus for the described purpose, meansfor receiving and continuously advancing a can body for positioning a can end thereupon, devices for feeding and marking said can end prior to the positioning thereof upon the can body, and means connected and cooperating therewith in the continued conveyance of the can body and end and having dies for loosely clinching said can end upon said can body for the en- .tire circumference thereof, said clinching means also conveying the cans onward with a rolling motion.

15. In an apparatus for the described purpose, means for receiving a succession of can bodies and placing the same in timed spaced relation, rotary means for continuously advancing said can bodies from said receiving means, a holder adapted to contain a stack of flanged can ends, means for successively removing the lowermost can end from said holder and positionin the same upon an advancing can body, evices combined with said rotary advancing means for marking said can end after its removal from said holder and prior to the positioning thereof upon the can body, means carried by the can body advancing means for positively applying the marked can end to the can body, and

devices connected and cooperating therewith in the continued conveyance of the can body and end and having dies for clinching said end to the said can body during the advancing movement and for the entire circumference thereof, said clinching means also conveying the cans onward with a rolling motion.

16. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a continuously rotary conveyer on a vertical axis and adapted to advance a flanged can body with a flanged can end positioned thereupon, means for automatically feeding said can end to the can body, means for feeding said can body to said rotary conveyer, and co-acting continuously rotary and mationary dies adapted to engage said can body and can end and to clinch the can end upon said can body for the entire circumference thereof, said parts being arranged to maintain a filled can body in substantially vertical position.

17. In an apparatusfor the described purpose, a continuously rotary conveyer on a vertical axis and adapted to advance a can body with a can end positioned thereupon, means for automatically feeding said can end to the can body, means for feeding the can body to said rotary conveyer, and co act ing relatively fixed and continuously rotary members associated with said conveyer for loosely clinching said can end upon said can body for the entire circumference thereof, said parts being arranged to maintain a filled can body in substantially vertical position.

18. in an apparatus for the described purpose, a continuously rotary conveyer on a vertical axis and adapted to advance a can body having an end positioned thereupon, means for automatically feeding said can end to the can body, means for feeding the can body and end to said conveyer, a semicircular stationary flange positioned above said conveyer, and a continuously rotating flanged disk positioned in spaced relation to said stationary flange and adapted to co-act with said stationary flange to engage the can end for clinching the same to said can body, said parts being arranged to maintain a filled can body in substantially vertical position.

19. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a continuously rotary horizontal conveyer adapted to advance a flanged can body in a semi-circular path, means for feeding the can body to said conveyer, devices for positioning a flanged can end upon said can body prior to the placing thereof upon said conveyer, a semi-circular stationary clinching flange positioned above said conveyer, a continuously rotating clinching disk positioned in spaced relation to said flange and adapted to co-act therewith to roll the can end therebetween for the clinching thereof upon the can body throughout the entire circumference thereof, and mechanism for imparting rotation to said conveyer and said flanged disk in the proper speed relation, said parts being arranged to maintain a filled can body in substantially vertical posi tion.

21. In an apparatus for the described purpose, the combination with a rotary conveyer of means for delivering flanged can bodies thereto in spaced timed relation, devices for successively positioning flanged can ends in axial alignment with said can bodies, a clinching turret, transfer means for delivering the can bodies with ends loosely positioned thereon to the clinching turret, positioning devices interposed between the rotary conveyer and the transfer means for loosely applying the can ends to the can bodies, and means associated with the clinching turret for applying the flange of the can ends to the flange of the can bodies throughout the entire circumference thereof.

22. In an apparatus for the described purpose, the combination with a clinching turret provided with a clinching groove, a fixed opposing part provided with a clinching groove, rotary means for delivering thereto in timed spaced relation flanged can bodies with flanged can ends loosely positioned the-reupon, means for automatically feeding said can ends to said can bodies, a fixed retaining plate for holding down the can end while the can is actuated by said rotary means, and a clinching flange associated with said turret and co-acting with the groove thereof for uniting the flange of the can ends to the flange of the can bodies throughout the entire circumference thereof as advanced by the clinching turret.

23. In an apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising a rotary conveyer, mechanism for delivering flanged can bodies thereto in timed spaced relation, means for positioning flanged can ends in axial alignment with said can bodies, vertically movable means for loosely applying the can ends to the can bodies while advanced by the rotary conveyer, a clinching turret provided with a clinching groove, means for transferring in unison the can bodies and positioned ends from the said conveyer to the clinching turret, aca'n end retaining plate associated with said transfer means and beneath which the can bodies move as conveyed toward the clinching turret, and a stationary clinching flange associated with the clinching turret and co-acting with the groove thereof for uniting the flange of the can ends to the can bodies for the entire circumference thereof as advanced by the said turret.

24. An apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising rotary means for receiving and advancing in unison a flanged can body and a flanged can end in axial alignment therewith, vertically movable means for loosely applying the can end to the can body during the advancing movement thereof, co-acting relatively movable members for loosely clinching the can end to the can body for the entire circumference thereof, said members having clinching dies for embracing the opposite sides of the applied can end and conveying the same bodily, transfer means for delivering the can body with its positioned end from the rotary conveyer to the clinching member and a member beneath which the can body moves associated with the transfer means for engaging and maintaining the can end in position during the transfer of the can body.

25 The combination of a can end applying turret having means'for holding the cans in substantially upright position, a clinching turret having means for bending the outstanding edge of a can end under the flange of the can body to which said end has been applied so as to leave a vent and prepare the same for double seaming, an opposing fixed part having similar bending means, a transferring device for taking the can bodies with applied ends from said applying turret to said clinching turret, means for rotating said turrets continuously, and means for feeding can bodies and can ends to said applying turret.

26. The combination of a can end applying turret, a clinching turrethaving means for bending the outstanding edge of a can end under the flange of the can body to which said end has been applied, a transferring device for taking the can bodies with applied ends from said applying turret to said clinching turret, means for rotating said turrets continuously, means for holding the applied can end down on the can. body while the same are being transferred by said transferring device, and means for feeding can bodies and can ends to said applying turret.

27. The combination of a can end apply- Y ing turret, a clinching turret having means for bending the outstanding edge of a can end under the flange of the can body to which said end has been applied and acting to roll the can along said bending means, a transferring device for taking the can bodies with applied ends from said applying turret to said clinching turret, means for rotating said turrets continuously, and means for feeding can bodies and can ends to said applying turret.

28. The combination of a can end applying turret, a clinching turret having means for bending the outstanding edge of a can end under the flange of the can body to which said end has been applied, and acting to roll the can along said bending means, a transferring device for taking the can bodies with applied ends from said applying turret to said clinching turret, means for rotating said turrets continuously, means a for holding the applied can end down on the can body while the same are being transferred by said transferring device, and means for feeding can bodies and can ends to said applying turret.

29. The combination of a can end applying turret, a clinching turret having means for bending the outstanding edge of a can end under the flange of the can body to which said end has been applied and operating. circumferentiallyl and continuously around the can end flange, so as to leave a vent and prepare the can for double seaming, a transferring device for taking the can bodies with applied ends from said applying turret to said clinching turret, means for rotating said turrets continuously, means for holding the applied can end down on the can body while the same are being transferred by said transferring device, and means for feeding can bodies and can ends to said applying turret.

30. The combination of a plurality of horizontal continuously rotating can carriers, having means for holding the cans in substantially upright position, means for automatically delivering filled cans and can ends to one of said carriers, means for applying the can ends to the can bodies during the continuous movement of the latter, and devices for transferring the can bodies with can ends applied thereto to another of said carriers, the last mentioned carrier having fixed and rotary clinching dies for clinching the can end while the can body and can end are being advanced by the last mentioned carrier.

31. The combination of means for ad- 12 vancing cans continuously having devices for holding the cans in substantially upright position, means for feeding can ends to said cans While the latter are in motion, and means comprisingopposing fixed and rotary dies formed with grooves for grasping the can covers and for clinching said covers and at the same time conveying the cans' continuously onward with a rolling motion.

32. In a machine-for applying covers to filled cans, thecombination. of means for feeding cans in spaced relationship, mechanism having means for holding the cans in substantially upright position for conveying the cans in the machine'with a continuous movement, means for positioning the covers upon the cans during such movement, and means, also operative during said continuous movement, for loosely clinching the entire cover flanges upon the can bodies.

33. In a machine for applying covers to filled calls, the combination .of means for feeding cans in spaced relationship, mechanism comprising a plurality of continuously rotated turrets having means for holding the'cans in substantially upright position for conveying the cans in the machine with a continuous movement, means for positioning the covers upon the cans during such movement, and means, also operative during said continuous movement, for loosely clinching the entire cover flanges upon the can bodies, said means comprislng a grooved arcuate die and devices for turning the entire cover flange through the groo'ye thereof.

34, The combination of means for -ad-, vancing flanged can ends continuously and having devices for holding the cans in substantially upright position and without ver tical movement, means for automatically feeding can ends to positions above said cans successively, vertically reciprocating plungers, one for each held can, for applying said can ends downward on said flanged can bodies while the latter are in said continuous motion, and means including a fixed" tical movement, means for automatically feeding can ends to positions above said cans successively, means for applying said can ends downward on said flanged can bodies While the latter are in said continuous motion, and means including a fixed arcuate die for clinching said covers under the flanges of the cans while the latter are being continuously advanced.

36. The combination of means for advancing flanged can ends continuously and having devices for holding the cans in substantially upright position and without vertical movement, means for automatically feeding can ends to positions above said cans successively, means for applying said'can ends downward on said flanged can bodies while the latter are in said continuous motion, and means for clinching said covers under the flanges of the cans while the latter are beingcontinuously advanced. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES A: GRAY. 

